I am an Australian writer of historical fiction with a touch of romance. I live in Melbourne but grew up in Ballarat, a large city in regional Victoria about 115 kilometres from Melbourne. History is everywhere in Ballarat with its Victorian buildings and wide streets. It was one of the first places where gold was discovered in Australia, in the early 1850s.

My stories, tales of ordinary people, weave fictional characters into the gaps within the historical record. I research the times and places where my stories are set as thoroughly as I can and try to ensure that my characters are men and women of their time. I believe that despite their different dress, speech and way of seeing the world, they are still like us. They have the same basic human needs, hopes and dreams as we have—for food and shelter, love and comfort, and hope for survival into a better future. I consider it important that my stories end on a strong note of hope.

I have a Master of Arts in history and am a retired librarian and an obsessive genealogist. When I am not writing, reading and researching, I enjoy gardening, the cinema and music of all sorts from early music and classical to folk and country & western. And, not least, taking photos of the family cat to post on Instagram.

Since publishing Forsaking All Other in 2018, I have taken part in a few interviews where I discuss not only my novels but also my approach to writing, and books and reading in general – these can be found here.